Um, What’s Seitan Exactly? Plus, Our Favorite Recipe

Seitan, also known as "wheat meat" just may be the best #MeatlessMonday staple that you've never tried. Seitan is made when wheat flour dough is washed with water until all the starch is removed, leaving just insoluble gluten. This gluten is then cooked and used as a meat substitute.

High in protein and low in fat (plain seitan has 7.5 grams of protein and 0 grams of fat per ounce), Seitan may just become your new main “meat.” Try it out in the tasty recipe we found on Pinterest from the Vegan Yack Attack blog, then tweet me @sarahjaneRD and @SELFmagazine to let me know how you like to cook with seitan.

Seitan Sauerkraut Sandwich:

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 Cup Thinly Sliced Onion Slivers (half-moon shape)

1 Cup Button Mushrooms, Sliced

5-6 Thin Slices of Seitan

1/2-1 Tablespoons Dijon or Stone Ground Mustard

1/2-1 Tablespoons Vegan Horseradish Sauce

2 Slices of Whole Wheat or Sourdough Bread, Toasted

2/3 Cup Sauerkraut, Drained

INSTRUCTIONS:

Place the onion and mushrooms into a small pan, over medium heat.

You may use a little oil in the pan if you’d like, but it’s not necessary. Just cover the pan and stir occasionally, until the onions are translucent and the mushrooms have reduced in size.

Once they are cooked, place them in a bowl. Using the same pan, lay the seitan slices flat on it, again, over medium heat. Turn over every 2-3 minutes, or when there is a slight browning on each side.

Spread the creamy horseradish onto one slice of toast, and the mustard on the other.

Next, stack the seitan first, then the drained sauerkraut, mushrooms/onions and the top piece of bread. Slice in half and enjoy!